Freerider looking for suggestions

Posted: 12 March 2011 05:18 PM

I have been riding since ‘97 and haven’t upgraded since then.  I’m looking to do it all (board, binding, boots) and to do it all once and right.

I’m on the East Coast and rarely see powder.  I’m an intermediate rider (6’ / 185 / 9.5 shoes) who likes to cruse the blue and black runs with my friends.  I’m never in the park and not in the trees either.  So I’m looking for a directional board that really rides we in the goomers and ice.  I have done a lot of reading (much of it on this site…seems really helpful!) and I’m feeling overwhelmed.  I’m willing to spend $$$ but I want to do it once and be set for the next several years.

I have read a lot about:
Never Summer Premier F1 and Raptor
Nidecker Megalight, Legend, Platinum and Legacy
Arbor A-Frame and Element CX
Rossignol JDub and One

Can you all give some advice?  Also, as a teacher who chaperones a lot of school trips I need a board with appropriate graphics.

Thanks so much!!!
Chris

Posted: 12 March 2011 07:26 PM

I guess that means the Burton Love and Forum Contract boards are a no go area!

If you can hold on ‘til next year, Rossignol are releasing a toned down version of the legendary Experience. It’s called the Krypto and it uses the same shape as the Experience but doesn’t use Torsion Box construction which makes the Experience very stiff and powerful.

Boards to check out this season:

Amplid Paradigama: I’ve ridden next years which has no camber and it was awsome. This year’s does have camber but I’ve ridden next years’s UNW8 which has the same shape as the Paradigama and has camber like this year’s paradigama and the sidecut and camber worked well together. For getting the most out of corduroy this is a fantastic board; lively, stable and lightening quick edge to edge.

Salomon Answer: All mountain versatility. I’ve just read Steve’s review on it that he literally just posted and it sounds like a cracker! Bamboo and camber… that’s one smooth popping mother!

Arbor Element CX - I rode the RX, but if you are sticking with groomers than the cambered version might be a better fit.

Rossignol One - I think being an intermediate the JDUB might be a bit too demanding, although the early rise tips have tamed the beast a little. The uses the All mountain amptek profile which is the same as my everyday board the Rossi Angus. I find that the profile makes switch riding very easy, makes dealing with choppy snow effortless and provides great float in powder . The Magnetraction edges should help grip the east coast ice.

Posted: 12 March 2011 08:05 PM

Thanks so much for the input… so is that a no-go on the Never Summer, Nidecker boards?

Posted: 12 March 2011 11:42 PM

Simply put: no. NS put out some serious groomer boards with the Raptor and F1 just as well as Nidecker did with the Megalight. You definitely listed some of the best but also most advanced snowboards for carving groomers there.
If you think you can handle them and you are looking for a premium class board, don’t hesitate!

Posted: 13 March 2011 12:37 AM

That’s good to know… I’m certainly not an expert.  Although I have been riding for a long time, I would still say I’m in the Intermediate level.  I just want to make sure I make the right move with this purchase.  As I have only had the one board, it’s hard to know what to move onto when there is all these different options.  I really just want a solid, directional board, that fun edge to edge, was made to have carve on the groomers, and can handle North East conditions (ice and crud).

Thanks again for all your input.  I have been to a few shops and it seems like they are just trying to sell me what they have in stock.

Posted: 13 March 2011 06:50 AM

The Salomon Answer seems like a great board.  Before I place my order, any thoughts on the Rome Agent vs. the Answer?  My local ski shop has the agent and is having their end of season sale.  You reviewed the rocker version, but mentioned that the Agent was also a great ride.

Posted: 13 March 2011 09:34 AM

I didn’t mention the NS or Nidecker boards because they’re really at the upper cost bracket. I’m a big fan of the Megalight, and the NS Freeride boards I’ve tried like the Raptor have been great. But at $500+ they are pretty expensive. Certainly don’t dicount them. The Megalight will be more manageable than the Premier F1.

The Rome Agent is an awsome board. I’ve only ridden the cambered version, it felt poppy and solid, but is definitely more suited to freestyle snowboarders, thats not to say it won’t work freeriding.

Posted: 14 March 2011 12:39 AM

So I can’t even find a Nidecker Megalight sold anywhere online.  Any suggestions?  I went to the Nidecker web page, and their dealer link doesn’t work.

Posted: 14 March 2011 08:30 PM

I did try to find a Megalight recently.  I was after a 163 with Ultimate Grip.  Nidecker pointed me in the direction of a number of dealers in Switzerland and France but none of them had this board in stock.  I seemed to scour the whole of the on line world but couldn’t find anything.  So I settled for a Burton Custom X.  Good luck with your search!  Maybe if you want a different size you’ll be lucky.
http://www.fluofun.fr/matos/nidecker/megalight.html
https://www.fluidity.ch/en/shop/article/man-snowboards-nidecker-megalight/s1-c21/7394-13735.html
http://www.adrenalinesport.fr/php_freeride_ski_snowboard_shop/prod-snow.php?id_produit=1850
http://www.hawaiisurf.com/snowboard-r-21.html
http://www.vagueetvent.com/snowboard-snowboards.html
http://www.tamtamshop.com/?arbo=boutique-snow-BOARDS1011-nidecker2198
http://www.auvieuxcampeur.fr/nos-produits/snowboard/materiel-de-snowboard/planches-hommes/freeride?p=2